He had mistaken my restraint for defeat.
What happened next would change that impression completely.
A Quiet Lesson in Basic Airplane Etiquette
I did not shout. I did not insult him. I did not threaten to have him removed from the aircraft.
Instead, I decided to demonstrate the very principle he seemed unwilling to acknowledge.
Courtesy works both ways.
If someone expects other passengers to respect his comfort, he should be prepared to respect theirs.
If he believes he has a right to relax during a flight, he must recognize that the person sitting in front of him has the same right.
My response would make that point without endangering anyone or disrupting the flight.
I waited until the passenger behind me shifted his position and began paying closer attention to something on his phone.
Then I reached for the call button above my seat.
A moment later, a flight attendant appeared beside me.
